Ohio’s Capital Budget Bills Introduced

Today, State Budget Director Kimberly Murnieks testified on the Capital Bill proposals, sharing that the state’s  "fiscal position has never been stronger."  The proposals (SB 450 & HB 959) total $3.696 billion, including $3.43 billion in General Revenue Fund-backed bond funding and an additional $263.3 million from non-GRF-backed bonds, cash, and federal sources.

Education remains one of the clearest priorities in the proposal, with $611 million for the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and $528.7 million for higher education projects. Those dollars will help modernize learning environments, improve campus and school infrastructure, and reinforce Ohio’s long-term workforce and economic development pipeline.

The bill also includes $200 million in community projects, click here for list by county

Other fiscal highlights:

• $385 million in new appropriations for the Department of Behavioral Health for renovations at six psychiatric hospitals.
• $246.2 million for projects in state and community-based correctional facilities.
• $265.3 million for renovations at lodges, cabins, campgrounds and the like as well as for a 12,000-acre purchase that will expand six existing state forests and two wildlife areas.
• $208 million for infrastructure upgrades at Department of Developmental Disabilities centers.
• $122.3 million for statewide facility and IT improvements.

At this point, we do not expect the bills to be amended, and both chambers are still on schedule to be recessed on June 10^th for the House and June 17^th for the Senate.